Euronews

MEPs have threatened to block a free trade deal between the US and the EU if Washington fails to stop its mass spying activities.

The call came in a non-binding European Parliament resolution that follows a six-month inquiry, which took testimony from fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The trade deal should include a data protection clause, says Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella. “For us at the European level it is essential that people are protected,” he said.

MEPs said that the fight against terrorism does not justify such mass surveillance, as one leading Dutch Liberal MEP explains.

“Despite mass surveillance we had 9/11, Madrid, London, Mumbai, Toulouse, Oslo. I mean, you name it. There has been Boston, there have been many attacks and in every single case the perpetrators were known to the secret services beforehand – so why are they spying on innocent citizens?” asked Sophia in ‘t Veld.

MEPs had initially said that EU governments would guarantee Edward Snowden asylum, but this demand was eventually